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- Jul 6, 2008
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The Governor’s Dilemma
The governor’s mansion, a double-storeyed building near the edge of the pit, is simple to find, and even simpler to enter. When you told the guards at the gates you were here about Zayan, and after they had gotten a good look at your hat, you were escorted in to meet the governor with little fuss.
The mansion’s interior is quite lavish, as befitting a man of the governor’s status: after all, Ontoglia is one of the most important towns in the kingdom. As you climb the grandiose stairs, flanked by two unwilling guards, you meet a rather pretty girl on her way down. Her hair falls over her shoulders in beautiful golden tresses, and her expression radiates unspoiled innocence. Despite the fairness of her face, you are unable to see the colour of her eyes; they are closed, and she is being guided by a stern-looking woman who seems to be a nanny of some sort. Judging from the finery of her dress and the elegance of her poise, she is most likely the young lady of the house. The governor’s daughter. She seems to notice your presence along with that of the guards, and pauses her careful descent.
“Oh my, another visitor here to visit father?” she asks.
“Yes, m’lady,” nods one of the guards. “No one you need to concern yourself with.”
“I see.” So she says, but she certainly doesn’t. Not with her eyes closed like that. Could she be blind? Even so, she manages to tilt her head towards you. “Father is still talking to Captain Talal, but I am sure he should receive you soon.”
“If he is busy, perhaps you could receive me instead?” You speak without thinking.
“M…Muhchacraken, please watch your tongue! That is the governor’s daughter that you are speaking to!” shouts one of the guards. It looks like you have started antagonizing people early.
“Lady Ellen, you have your studies to get to. Now is not the time for idle chitchat,” admonishes the nanny. “Come now.”
Ellen laughs girlishly. “Yes, I really should. Forgive me for holding you up, sir. Unfortunately, I fear that I am unable to receive you at the moment.”
As she continues to descend the stairs, you are prodded in the back rudely by the guards.
“Hey, move it, you scoundrel. What were you thinking?”
“The governor won’t like it if he hears of this,” warns one of them.
***
When you arrive at the governor’s study, a muscular, tanned man with curly black hair and dashing good looks steps out of the door. He looks strong, and the small scars scattered around his face only add to his charm: he must be popular with women. When he sees you and the guards, he gives a professional salute and a bow, and steps away politely, though not before his eyes flick upwards to the peak of your tall, pointed hat. As he walks away, one of the guards says, “That’s Captain Talal, the leader of the Dijehnese soldiers that escorted Zayan here. Well, if he’s done, you can go in to meet the governor. Be on your best behaviour.”
You chuckle and enter the room. The governor awaits you inside. A balding man of forty or so, he has a strong jaw and is built like a brick wall: he looks like he could be working the mines himself if not for the ill-fitting suit that looks to be a classic example of expensively bad tailoring. He looks up at your approach, and lets out a sigh. “Trider Muh… Muhchacraken, I presume? Am I pronouncing it right? I am Governor Ambrese Hastwell, the man currently in charge of Ontoglia.”
You nod, acknowledging him. It is not like you know how to pronounce the name you made up anyway – they can say it however they like.
The governor continues: “That strange hat. So it’s true. My men have told me that someone fitting your description has… picked up someone of interest.”
“No beating about the bush, Governor. I’m here to find out what is going on and how I can be of service,” you grin, sitting down without waiting for his permission. He frowns but lets it pass. Not too much of a stickler
“What is going on… well, the thing that is going on is another of those little tussles for little advantages between the royal family, which you have inadvertently walked into by stealing the prize.”
“The Crown Prince is involved, or so I hear.”
“Did Zayan tell you that?”
“I have my sources.”
The governor frowns, steepling his thick, meaty fingers. “Then you must understand why I am forced to act carefully in this matter.”
“Aren’t you going against the Crown Prince’s wishes in this matter?”
“Yes, but only because it would upturn the entire system of Ontoglia, changing things too radically, too quickly.”
“And I am to take it that incurring Dijeh’s displeasure would not be pleasant, would it?”
“Not with Barzam and Galbaldy breathing down our necks, no. Then there are the rumours that Gran Byarlant might be making another move in the near future…” With a sigh, Governor Ambrese begins to tap his finger on the table restlessly. “Well, enough of that. What concerns me is what you want, Muhchacraken.”
“I don’t know yet,” you say simply.
“What? Why did you take her, then?”
“I thought it would be interesting,” you say, eliciting a look of astonishment and bewilderment from Ambrese. “Please bear with me here for a little longer, Governor, and entertain my desire for conversation. To help me decide, first let me hear what you have in mind.”
“Returning Zayan to Dijeh, of course. Captain Talal has been remarkably patient, but I fear that if he has to return without his country’s most prized brain, he might not be so calm. Dijeh put their trust in us by agreeing to let Zayan visit. Though their merchants are cut-throat… no perhaps because their merchants are so driven, as a people they put a lot of stock in trust. It is a valuable commodity to them.”
“That would incur the Crown Prince’s displeasure, would it not?”
“It would, but I am aware of the risks.”
“Wait, you did say it was a tussle between the royal family…” you muse.
“That’s right. I was initially tipped off about Zayan’s intentions by the Second Princess, Faislin.”
“That’s your backer, then?”
“Nothing so close, no.” Ambrese shakes his head. “We just happen to have coinciding interests. I want stability for Ontoglia. Princess Faislin wants stability for Methuss as a whole. The Crown Prince’s plan for Zayan's defection and for her to openly start the production of those new mining machines would immediately attract Dijehnese attention, and not the good sort. It would also throw Ontoglia into turmoil quickly enough and that would likely cripple ore production until things get sorted out, regardless of how efficient those machines are. Thankfully, Captain Talal has sworn that none of the problems here will reach his masters’ ears as long as Zayan returns.”
“You seem to view his plan with very little regard, Governor.”
“I think it is foolish and short-sighted, like an already well-fed dog gulping down rotten meat without caring to sniff it. Then again, these are just the thoughts of an old man.”
“I see. I suppose you are confident that even if word gets back to the Crown Prince, he will not seek to get back at you in any way.”
“I… would not put it past Prince Feist. But I am prepared to do what it takes to keep the peace.”
“Even if it means your daughter is put in danger?”
Ambrese’s face grows red, and he bristles, leaning towards you menacingly. “What do you mean, Trider?”
“I am not sure about this man Feist’s character, but is he the sort to spare family members and punish only those who have crossed him? Or is the princess influential enough to protect you should he find out about your betrayal?”
“That is… well, as long as he does not find out, he will not strike off a valuable ally like me directly,” mutters the governor. He does not seem fully convinced himself.
“As long as he does not find out,” you nod, smiling.
His expression darkens. “So here we are at the crux of the matter. What do you want?”
“Hm. I want a lot of things. But first of all, I want to help you resolve this Zayan conundrum. For example… let’s say the Crown Prince does not get his hands on Zayan. Would that restore Ontoglia’s mood?”
“It would, yes.”
“What if, at the same time, Zayan does not return to Dijeh? Would you still make an enemy of the Crown Prince?”
“Hm. Hm. I am… not sure. Certainly, there was nothing about safely delivering Zayan into his hands…”
“A lot of things can happen on the road. These are dangerous times.”
“Enough. What do you suggest?” asks the governor brusquely.
You lean back, waving a finger around in a circle. “I’ll make Zayan disappear. Her escorts too, of course. I’ll take all of the problems out of your hands. Neither the Crown Prince nor Dijeh will see a hair of Zayan after I’m done. Naturally, the prince might see you as an incompetent failure, but you might accept that over inciting his wrath. After all, I am sure that part of his reasoning is to steal a valuable asset away from Dijeh. If his plan is half-complete, he might be satisfied.”
“How would you convince Captain Talal?”
“Who said anything about convincing?”
The governor grows pale. “You mean…”
“They are not returning to Dijeh.” You smile. “It might cause a little tension between the two countries, but nothing as severe as what would happen should the Crown Prince get his way. I am sure the princess would be satisfied with that. Everyone gets a little bit of what they want, and you get to keep the status quo in Ontoglia.”
“And what do you get?” he asks wearily.
***
You are keenly aware that the governor’s patience is almost its limit. Everyone has their breaking point: make too many demands and things will clearly go sour. Of course, asking for less than he expects would definitely improve his disposition towards you. You wonder if you will be able to judge his limit accurately…
A. You show the signet ring given to you by Farland. (+3 limit to negotiation points)
B. You do not show the signet ring given to you by Farland.
I. A recommendation letter from the governor. (1 point)
II. Information about Methuss, its royal family, and politics both international and local. (2 points)
III. Money. As much as you can negotiate. (2 points)
IV. A chunk of magnatite. (3 points)
V. A box of magnatite. (6 points)
VII. The governor’s daughter in your custody, as guarantee he will not turn on you. (8 points)
C. You ask for nothing. Zayan herself is reward enough, though of course he does not need to know that.
The governor’s mansion, a double-storeyed building near the edge of the pit, is simple to find, and even simpler to enter. When you told the guards at the gates you were here about Zayan, and after they had gotten a good look at your hat, you were escorted in to meet the governor with little fuss.
The mansion’s interior is quite lavish, as befitting a man of the governor’s status: after all, Ontoglia is one of the most important towns in the kingdom. As you climb the grandiose stairs, flanked by two unwilling guards, you meet a rather pretty girl on her way down. Her hair falls over her shoulders in beautiful golden tresses, and her expression radiates unspoiled innocence. Despite the fairness of her face, you are unable to see the colour of her eyes; they are closed, and she is being guided by a stern-looking woman who seems to be a nanny of some sort. Judging from the finery of her dress and the elegance of her poise, she is most likely the young lady of the house. The governor’s daughter. She seems to notice your presence along with that of the guards, and pauses her careful descent.
“Oh my, another visitor here to visit father?” she asks.
“Yes, m’lady,” nods one of the guards. “No one you need to concern yourself with.”
“I see.” So she says, but she certainly doesn’t. Not with her eyes closed like that. Could she be blind? Even so, she manages to tilt her head towards you. “Father is still talking to Captain Talal, but I am sure he should receive you soon.”
“If he is busy, perhaps you could receive me instead?” You speak without thinking.
“M…Muhchacraken, please watch your tongue! That is the governor’s daughter that you are speaking to!” shouts one of the guards. It looks like you have started antagonizing people early.
“Lady Ellen, you have your studies to get to. Now is not the time for idle chitchat,” admonishes the nanny. “Come now.”
Ellen laughs girlishly. “Yes, I really should. Forgive me for holding you up, sir. Unfortunately, I fear that I am unable to receive you at the moment.”
As she continues to descend the stairs, you are prodded in the back rudely by the guards.
“Hey, move it, you scoundrel. What were you thinking?”
“The governor won’t like it if he hears of this,” warns one of them.
***
When you arrive at the governor’s study, a muscular, tanned man with curly black hair and dashing good looks steps out of the door. He looks strong, and the small scars scattered around his face only add to his charm: he must be popular with women. When he sees you and the guards, he gives a professional salute and a bow, and steps away politely, though not before his eyes flick upwards to the peak of your tall, pointed hat. As he walks away, one of the guards says, “That’s Captain Talal, the leader of the Dijehnese soldiers that escorted Zayan here. Well, if he’s done, you can go in to meet the governor. Be on your best behaviour.”
You chuckle and enter the room. The governor awaits you inside. A balding man of forty or so, he has a strong jaw and is built like a brick wall: he looks like he could be working the mines himself if not for the ill-fitting suit that looks to be a classic example of expensively bad tailoring. He looks up at your approach, and lets out a sigh. “Trider Muh… Muhchacraken, I presume? Am I pronouncing it right? I am Governor Ambrese Hastwell, the man currently in charge of Ontoglia.”
You nod, acknowledging him. It is not like you know how to pronounce the name you made up anyway – they can say it however they like.
The governor continues: “That strange hat. So it’s true. My men have told me that someone fitting your description has… picked up someone of interest.”
“No beating about the bush, Governor. I’m here to find out what is going on and how I can be of service,” you grin, sitting down without waiting for his permission. He frowns but lets it pass. Not too much of a stickler
“What is going on… well, the thing that is going on is another of those little tussles for little advantages between the royal family, which you have inadvertently walked into by stealing the prize.”
“The Crown Prince is involved, or so I hear.”
“Did Zayan tell you that?”
“I have my sources.”
The governor frowns, steepling his thick, meaty fingers. “Then you must understand why I am forced to act carefully in this matter.”
“Aren’t you going against the Crown Prince’s wishes in this matter?”
“Yes, but only because it would upturn the entire system of Ontoglia, changing things too radically, too quickly.”
“And I am to take it that incurring Dijeh’s displeasure would not be pleasant, would it?”
“Not with Barzam and Galbaldy breathing down our necks, no. Then there are the rumours that Gran Byarlant might be making another move in the near future…” With a sigh, Governor Ambrese begins to tap his finger on the table restlessly. “Well, enough of that. What concerns me is what you want, Muhchacraken.”
“I don’t know yet,” you say simply.
“What? Why did you take her, then?”
“I thought it would be interesting,” you say, eliciting a look of astonishment and bewilderment from Ambrese. “Please bear with me here for a little longer, Governor, and entertain my desire for conversation. To help me decide, first let me hear what you have in mind.”
“Returning Zayan to Dijeh, of course. Captain Talal has been remarkably patient, but I fear that if he has to return without his country’s most prized brain, he might not be so calm. Dijeh put their trust in us by agreeing to let Zayan visit. Though their merchants are cut-throat… no perhaps because their merchants are so driven, as a people they put a lot of stock in trust. It is a valuable commodity to them.”
“That would incur the Crown Prince’s displeasure, would it not?”
“It would, but I am aware of the risks.”
“Wait, you did say it was a tussle between the royal family…” you muse.
“That’s right. I was initially tipped off about Zayan’s intentions by the Second Princess, Faislin.”
“That’s your backer, then?”
“Nothing so close, no.” Ambrese shakes his head. “We just happen to have coinciding interests. I want stability for Ontoglia. Princess Faislin wants stability for Methuss as a whole. The Crown Prince’s plan for Zayan's defection and for her to openly start the production of those new mining machines would immediately attract Dijehnese attention, and not the good sort. It would also throw Ontoglia into turmoil quickly enough and that would likely cripple ore production until things get sorted out, regardless of how efficient those machines are. Thankfully, Captain Talal has sworn that none of the problems here will reach his masters’ ears as long as Zayan returns.”
“You seem to view his plan with very little regard, Governor.”
“I think it is foolish and short-sighted, like an already well-fed dog gulping down rotten meat without caring to sniff it. Then again, these are just the thoughts of an old man.”
“I see. I suppose you are confident that even if word gets back to the Crown Prince, he will not seek to get back at you in any way.”
“I… would not put it past Prince Feist. But I am prepared to do what it takes to keep the peace.”
“Even if it means your daughter is put in danger?”
Ambrese’s face grows red, and he bristles, leaning towards you menacingly. “What do you mean, Trider?”
“I am not sure about this man Feist’s character, but is he the sort to spare family members and punish only those who have crossed him? Or is the princess influential enough to protect you should he find out about your betrayal?”
“That is… well, as long as he does not find out, he will not strike off a valuable ally like me directly,” mutters the governor. He does not seem fully convinced himself.
“As long as he does not find out,” you nod, smiling.
His expression darkens. “So here we are at the crux of the matter. What do you want?”
“Hm. I want a lot of things. But first of all, I want to help you resolve this Zayan conundrum. For example… let’s say the Crown Prince does not get his hands on Zayan. Would that restore Ontoglia’s mood?”
“It would, yes.”
“What if, at the same time, Zayan does not return to Dijeh? Would you still make an enemy of the Crown Prince?”
“Hm. Hm. I am… not sure. Certainly, there was nothing about safely delivering Zayan into his hands…”
“A lot of things can happen on the road. These are dangerous times.”
“Enough. What do you suggest?” asks the governor brusquely.
You lean back, waving a finger around in a circle. “I’ll make Zayan disappear. Her escorts too, of course. I’ll take all of the problems out of your hands. Neither the Crown Prince nor Dijeh will see a hair of Zayan after I’m done. Naturally, the prince might see you as an incompetent failure, but you might accept that over inciting his wrath. After all, I am sure that part of his reasoning is to steal a valuable asset away from Dijeh. If his plan is half-complete, he might be satisfied.”
“How would you convince Captain Talal?”
“Who said anything about convincing?”
The governor grows pale. “You mean…”
“They are not returning to Dijeh.” You smile. “It might cause a little tension between the two countries, but nothing as severe as what would happen should the Crown Prince get his way. I am sure the princess would be satisfied with that. Everyone gets a little bit of what they want, and you get to keep the status quo in Ontoglia.”
“And what do you get?” he asks wearily.
***
You are keenly aware that the governor’s patience is almost its limit. Everyone has their breaking point: make too many demands and things will clearly go sour. Of course, asking for less than he expects would definitely improve his disposition towards you. You wonder if you will be able to judge his limit accurately…
A. You show the signet ring given to you by Farland. (+3 limit to negotiation points)
B. You do not show the signet ring given to you by Farland.
I. A recommendation letter from the governor. (1 point)
II. Information about Methuss, its royal family, and politics both international and local. (2 points)
III. Money. As much as you can negotiate. (2 points)
IV. A chunk of magnatite. (3 points)
V. A box of magnatite. (6 points)
VII. The governor’s daughter in your custody, as guarantee he will not turn on you. (8 points)
C. You ask for nothing. Zayan herself is reward enough, though of course he does not need to know that.
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Wonder if showing our ring here wouldn't prompt yet another plot.
